Chicago is a wonderful place to find great food and fun atmospheres. Every neighborhood offers unique flavors and styles that are a must to experience. One great Chicago neighborhood that always offers a great experience is Pilsen. Located just west of the South Loop, this neighborhood is a mix of old Mexican culture and college town vibe. One place that makes this unique area of the city special is a nice little spot for ramen called Furious Spoon.

The Furious Spoon, located at 1316 W 18th St, is a hot spot for great ramen and rice bowls. They offer a full bar, including some amazing specialty cocktails, draft beers and sake. The also feature hip hop playing on the speakers and a real beer garden feel despite being indoors. They also open late, 1 AM Sunday through Thursday, 2 AM on Friday, and 3 AM on Saturday. This is a great place to enjoy a good meal and conversation, but you can go just to enjoy a drink and some dope music.

There are many great dishes at Furious Spoon, especially if you enjoy a little heat. The dishes are reasonably priced, ranging between $11 and $16. They offer vegetarian options, chicken, pork belly, shrimp, spicy beef brisket and ahi tuna. You can easily customize your dishes with toppings like fresh corn, nori, poached eggs and garlic relish. You can even add a little more heat with some chili-infused noodles.

For those that like to indulge in the adult beverages, Furious Spoon offers some unique cocktails and craft beer. They offer Surly Furious IPA and Kirin Ichiban Japanese Lager on tap. Their house speciality cocktails include the Furious Margarita (with libelula tequila, nori, and habanero) and the Shaolin Colada (with flor de caña rum, sailor jerry spiced rum, lychee, and peychaud’s bitters). The drink I recommend the most has to be the Worst Behavior (with control pisco, fords gin, combier, and matcha), it provides a nice kick with a fresh citrus taste, perfect for summer nights in Chicago.

If booze isn't your thing, Furious Spoon offers some of their cocktails in a non=alcholic version, or you can choose some mexican Coca-Cola (made with real sugar) or a spicy and sweet ginger beer.

The Verdict

This is a great place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon or a night out with that special someone. The atmosphere is dope, the food is tasty and the drinks are flowing. On average you are looking to spend about $18 to $25 per person, depending on what and how much you drink. It's ok for family, but I would suggest going for lunch or early dinner if bringing kids along. For Pilsen area, parking is scarce and side streets are full of permit parking, public transportation or Uber may be your best option.